Innsbruck in winter is a city break and a ski trip at once. The Christmas markets open on 13 November 2026, the Nordkette cable cars climb from the old town to 2,256 m from 20 November, and one SKI plus CITY Pass covers 12 ski areas and 23 city sights from 162 euros for two days (2026/27 adult price). Between those, there are palaces and museums for cold days, toboggan runs, thermal pools and a big New Year's Eve.
Innsbruck has seven Christmas markets, and the season starts on 13 November 2026. The Old Town market under the Golden Roof and the family market on Marktplatz by the Inn run until 23 December, daily from 11:00 to 21:00. The modern market on Maria-Theresien-Strasse and the panorama market at the Hungerburg stay open until 6 January 2027.
The Marktplatz has a Swarovski crystal tree 17.5 m tall with hourly light shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Above the city, the Hungerburg market is eight minutes up by funicular, and the Kaiserweihnacht at the Bergisel runs on six weekends with views over the rooftops.
Innsbruck Christmas markets 2026: dates, hours and where to stay
GetYourGuide · 5.0/5 from 3 reviews
A private Advent walk through Innsbruck's Christmas markets with a licensed guide who knows the stories behind them: the old town market by the Golden Roof, nativity scenes, the Swarovski crystal tree and the lit avenue on Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
Departs from Your hotel lobby in central Innsbruck, the car and coach park or the station · About 1.5 hours
GetYourGuide · 4.9/5 from 69 reviews
The easiest and cheapest way to get your bearings on your first day: one hour on foot through the old town with a state-certified Austria Guide, for less than the price of lunch.
Departs from Innsbruck Information, Burggraben 3 (Stadtführung meeting point sign) · About 1 hour
GetYourGuide · 4.3/5 from 176 reviews
The quick, cheap way up above Innsbruck: 8 minutes from the old town to the Hungerburg at 860 m, through stations designed by Zaha Hadid, with the city spread out below.
Departs from Congress station, Rennweg 3, Innsbruck · Valid for one day; the ride takes about 8 minutes each way
Our take on each: Innsbruck Christmas market tour with a licensed guide · Innsbruck walking tour of the old town (Welcome Tour) · Hungerburg funicular tickets (Hungerburgbahn return).
Where to stay for this
Altstadt (old town), Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 43 rooms
A minute from the Golden Roof, so the Old Town market is on the doorstep.
A historic family-run inn in the car-free old town, a minute from the Golden Roof; for couples and first-time visitors.
From £139 a night
Altstadt (old town), Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 48 rooms
The Old Town market runs right in front of this 15th-century house.
A characterful design hotel in a 15th-century old town house, a minute from the Golden Roof; ideal for couples and city breaks.
From £147 a night
City centre, Maria-Theresien-Strasse, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars
On Maria-Theresien-Strasse, beside the market that stays open until 6 January.
A modern, well-run hotel on Maria-Theresien-Strasse with saunas, a ski room and family rooms; a practical base for families and skiers.
From £143 a night
Twelve ski areas around Innsbruck and in the Stubai valley share one pass, the SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck, with 265 km of pistes. The Nordkette starts in the city centre; the Patscherkofel, Innsbruck's Olympic mountain, is a bus ride away on line J; the Stubai Glacier has been open since 9 October 2026 and runs into May.
The 2026/27 pass costs 162 euros for two days and 433 euros for seven (adult), and it includes the ski buses when you also show the free Welcome Card from your accommodation. Families do well at the Patscherkofel, Muttereralm, Glungezer and Schlick 2000; strong skiers and freeriders head for the Nordkette, Axamer Lizum and the glacier.
Skiing in Innsbruck 2026/27: ski areas, SKI plus CITY Pass prices and where to stay
GetYourGuide · 5.0/5 from 8 reviews
A whole day in the snow with your own mountain guide, planned around your fitness and the weather, with pick-up from your hotel.
Departs from Pick-up from your hotel in Innsbruck · About 6 hours, including about 4.5 hours on foot
Our take on each: Private snowshoe and winter hike near Innsbruck.
Where to stay for this
City centre, by the Hauptbahnhof, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars · 88 rooms
Ski buses leave daily in winter from the stop in front of the hotel.
A family-run four-star two minutes from the Hauptbahnhof, with a proper Tyrolean restaurant; for skiers, families and rail travellers.
From £132 a night
Igls · 3 stars
Free ski buses to the Patscherkofel, Axamer Lizum, Muttereralm and the Nordkette.
Family-run three-star bed and breakfast with apartments on the sunny Igls plateau; good for families, hikers and longer stays.
From £114 a night
Axams, Mutters, Lans and Axams · 3 stars
A ski depot at the Axamer Lizum and the Innsbruck bus at the door.
A family-run three-star in Axams with the Innsbruck bus at the door and the Axamer Lizum close by; great for skiers and cyclists.
From £112 a night
The Nordkette cable cars run all winter, from 20 November 2026 to 25 April 2027. The Hungerburgbahn funicular leaves from the Congress station by the old town, and the Seegrube and Hafelekar cable cars carry on to 2,256 m, with Innsbruck spread out below. Non-skiers can ride all the way up for the view.
A Top of Innsbruck return costs 56 euros for an adult on the current published tariff (no separate 2026/27 winter price yet). On every Advent Sunday there is a brunch at the Seegrube (1,905 m) from 10:00 to 13:00, and on the first Friday of each month the Seegrube cable car runs until 23:30.
Nordkette Innsbruck: cable car tickets, prices and what to do at the top
GetYourGuide · 4.8/5 from 1194 reviews
The one mountain trip almost every visitor should make: from the old town to 2,256 m in about 20 minutes, with the whole of Innsbruck below you and the Karwendel behind.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station, next to Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; the ride up takes about 20 minutes, allow half a day
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 421 reviews
The best value full day above Innsbruck: the return ride to the Top of Innsbruck plus the Alpine Zoo, which sits on the same funicular line.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station beside Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; allow 5 to 6 hours for both
GetYourGuide · 4.4/5 from 729 reviews
The classic family half day in Innsbruck: ride the Zaha Hadid funicular up from the old town, spend a couple of hours with wolves, bears and lynx at the Alpine Zoo, and carry on to the Hungerburg viewpoint before riding back.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station beside Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; allow 2.5 to 3 hours
Our take on each: Nordkette cable car tickets (Top of Innsbruck) · Nordkette and Alpine Zoo combi ticket (Top of Innsbruck plus zoo) · Alpine Zoo and Hungerburg funicular combi ticket.
Where to stay for this
City centre, edge of the old town, Innsbruck city centre · Hotel · 51 rooms
Six minutes on foot to the Nordkette funicular, with a ski room and boot dryer.
Family-run city hotel three minutes from the Golden Roof, with ski storage and a pine breakfast room; suits skiers and city breaks.
From £130 a night
Mariahilf, across the Inn from the old town, Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 29 rooms
A riverside house about five minutes' walk from the Congress station.
A small, family-run four-star in the painted riverside houses facing the old town; a warm choice for couples and families.
From £137 a night
From 11 November 2026 to 6 February 2027, Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens lights its winter park with crystal fairy-tale creations by Tord Boontje, and his Crystal Star sits on a 10 m Christmas tree on the Grand Plaza. It opens daily from 9:00 to 19:00 (last entry 18:00), so a late afternoon visit catches the lights after dark.
A Day Pass costs 25 euros online for adults and 9 euros for children 6 to 17. An e-shuttle bus leaves Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof five times a day, and a Day Pass with the shuttle costs 38 euros. A combo ticket adds LUMAGICA, the light trail in Innsbruck's Hofgarten, on a different day if you like.
Swarovski Crystal Worlds Wattens: tickets, shuttle from Innsbruck and opening hours
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 817 reviews
The easy way to see Swarovski Crystal Worlds without a car: entry and a return seat on the shuttle bus from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof on one ticket.
Departs from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, Südtiroler Platz · Valid for one day; allow half a day including the bus
GetYourGuide · 4.5/5 from 1544 reviews
The right ticket if you are driving, already staying near Wattens or have your own way there: it is entry only, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Departs from Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Kristallweltenstrasse 1, 6112 Wattens · Valid for one day; most visits take 2 to 3 hours
Our take on each: Swarovski Crystal Worlds tickets with shuttle from Innsbruck · Swarovski Crystal Worlds tickets (Wattens).
Where to stay for this
Next to the Hauptbahnhof, Innsbruck city centre · 3 stars · 234 rooms
Beside the Hauptbahnhof, where the Crystal Worlds shuttle bus leaves.
A design-led budget hotel in a tower beside the station, with a 13th-floor bar facing the mountains; good value for couples.
From £114 a night
On a grey day, the Hofburg imperial palace opens daily from 9:00 to 17:00, and under-19s go in free (adult 10.50 euros, 2026 price). Ambras Castle, often called the world's first museum, reopens in December after its November closure and opens daily 10:00 to 17:00, with a 12 euro online ticket.
The Bergisel ski jump opens Wednesday to Monday in winter (adult 12 euros until 31 December 2026), and next door the Tirol Panorama shows Tyrolean history on a 1,000 m² circular painting. The Golden Roof Museum opens Tuesday to Sunday from October to April. In the evening, a Tyrolean folk show with dinner is a warm way to spend a cold night.
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 253 reviews
Book this if you like history, art or simply curious things: Archduke Ferdinand II's castle holds one of the earliest museum collections anywhere, with armour, oddities and over 200 Habsburg portraits.
Departs from Schloss Ambras, Schlossstrasse 20, Innsbruck; bus M to Schloss Ambras or bus 540 from the Hauptbahnhof · At least 1 hour, more with the park
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 170 reviews
An easy win for almost everyone: a short trip from the centre to an Olympic ski jump, a lift up Zaha Hadid's tower and one of the best views of Innsbruck from the terrace on top.
Departs from Bergisel Schanze, Bergiselweg 3, Innsbruck; tram 1 to Bergisel or the Sightseer bus · About 1 hour, more with a meal
GetYourGuide · 4.7/5 from 1163 reviews
The classic night out in Innsbruck for anyone who wants to hear yodelling, see the slap dance and listen to instruments you will not meet anywhere else, all in one evening.
Departs from Alpensaal an der Messe, Ingenieur-Etzel-Strasse, Innsbruck (first floor); tram 1 or S-Bahn to Messe · Show about 1.5 hours (20:30 to about 22:00); 3 hours with dinner
Our take on each: Ambras Castle tickets (Schloss Ambras Innsbruck) · Bergisel ski jump tickets · Tyrolean evening in Innsbruck with the Gundolf family.
Where to stay for this
City centre, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars · 84 rooms
Above a classic Viennese coffee house, seven minutes from the Golden Roof.
Four-star city hotel above a classic Viennese coffee house, with a fourth-floor spa; suits couples and business travellers.
City centre, by the Hofgarten, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars
By the Hofgarten, close to the Hofburg, with a sauna for cold evenings.
A 15th-century family house turned stylish city hotel, with themed signature rooms, a rooftop terrace and sauna; great for couples.
From £132 a night
You do not need to ski to enjoy the snow. The Rangger Köpfl above Oberperfuss has Tyrol's longest continuous toboggan run at 10.5 km, partly lit, plus cross-country trails and winter walking. The Elfer in Neustift has two of Tyrol's longest toboggan runs, both with snowmaking, Schlick 2000 runs night tobogganing every week, and Kühtai has moonlight tobogganing on Tyrol's highest run. Toboggans and snowshoes can be hired at Die Boerse.
In town, the outdoor ice ring at Olympiaworld is open from 21 November 2026 to 21 February 2027, weather permitting, for 8 euros an adult and 16 euros for a family of four.
Skiing in Innsbruck 2026/27: ski areas, SKI plus CITY Pass prices and where to stay
GetYourGuide · 5.0/5 from 8 reviews
A whole day in the snow with your own mountain guide, planned around your fitness and the weather, with pick-up from your hotel.
Departs from Pick-up from your hotel in Innsbruck · About 6 hours, including about 4.5 hours on foot
Our take on each: Private snowshoe and winter hike near Innsbruck.
Where to stay for this
Pradl, near Olympiaworld, Innsbruck city centre · Hotel
Good-value Pradl hotel near Olympiaworld and its outdoor ice ring.
A friendly, good-value city hotel in Pradl with themed rooms, breakfast included and a small relax area; ideal for budget-minded active travellers.
From £145 a night
Mutters, Mutters, Lans and Axams · 4 stars
In Mutters, a few minutes from the Muttereralm and its toboggan runs.
A relaxed four-star in the village of Mutters with an adults' sauna area and regional and Asian cooking; for couples and families.
From £152 a night
The Aqua Dome in Längenfeld, in the Ötztal, has 12 thermal pools, 9 saunas and three outdoor floating bowls looking at the mountains. A thermal spa day ticket (9:00 to 18:30) costs 59 euros for adults and 35.50 euros for children, as shown in October 2026, and the spa advises booking online because capacity is limited.
Closer to town, the SKI plus CITY Pass includes four hours at the StuBay leisure pool in the Stubai valley (sauna extra, closed 14 to 24 December), reached by the Stubaitalbahn tram. Several Innsbruck hotels have their own pools too.
Where to stay in Innsbruck in winter: the best areas and hotels
GetYourGuide · 4.9/5 from 29 reviews
The treat day of a Tyrol trip: floating in warm thermal water in the Aqua Dome's outdoor bowl pools with the Ötztal mountains all around, then a sauna, a lounger kept for you and lunch on a voucher.
Departs from Aqua Dome thermal spa reception, Längenfeld, Ötztal · A full day, from 9:00; thermal pools open until 22:30
Our take on each: Aqua Dome day spa (Längenfeld, Ötztal).
Where to stay for this
Old town, on the Inn, Innsbruck old town · 4 stars
An indoor pool open around the clock, by the Inn at the old town edge.
Four-star spa hotel by the Inn at the old town edge, with a pool open around the clock; for couples and skiers.
From £231 a night
Lans, above Innsbruck, Mutters, Lans and Axams · 4 stars
A heated rooftop infinity pool at 30 degrees above Innsbruck.
A family-run spa hotel in Lans with a heated rooftop infinity pool and panorama sauna; lovely for couples and families.
From £155 a night
City centre, beside the Landestheater, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars
Fifth-floor panoramic pool and outdoor jacuzzi beside the Landestheater.
A big, well-equipped city hotel next to the Landestheater with a rooftop pool; for families, skiers and short city breaks.
From £215 a night
Igls · 4 stars · 73 rooms
Indoor pool, Finnish sauna and mountain views from every room in Igls.
A four-star village hotel in Igls with indoor pool, sauna and mountain views from every room; for couples, families and skiers.
From £123 a night
Bergsilvester runs on 30 and 31 December 2026. There are light projections around the city, a children's New Year's Eve on 30 December, and on 31 December a party mile with live music and DJs, ending with fireworks on the Nordkette above the city. The Nordkette also sells a New Year's Eve ticket of its own.
On the afternoon of the 31st, the Hungerburg Christmas market opens 12:00 to 17:00 and the Olympiaworld outdoor ice ring 12:00 to 16:50. Two days later, on 2 and 3 January 2027, the Four Hills Tournament comes to the Bergisel ski jump.
Nordkette Innsbruck: cable car tickets, prices and what to do at the top
Where to stay for this
City centre, Rathaus Galerien, Innsbruck city centre · Hotel
A west-facing rooftop bar above the Rathaus Galerien, five minutes from the Golden Roof.
A calm design hotel above the Rathaus Galerien with a west-facing rooftop bar; for couples and business travellers who like style.
From £168 a night
City centre, by the main station, Innsbruck city centre · Hotel · 75 rooms
Panorama rooms and a twelfth-floor rooftop bar by the main station.
Tower hotel by the main station with panorama rooms, a twelfth-floor rooftop bar and a sauna; for couples and city breaks.
From £167 a night
Hall in Tirol is nine minutes away by train and has its own Advent market from 20 November 2026, with the house fronts on its medieval square turned into an Advent calendar. Further east, Rattenberg lights its lanes with candles and torches on Advent weekends. The Stubai Glacier offers skiing and the TOP OF TYROL viewing platform above 3,000 m, and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria opens daily 10:00 to 16:00 in winter.
Winter day trips from Innsbruck
GetYourGuide · 4.4/5 from 2039 reviews
For independent travellers who want a guaranteed entry time at Neuschwanstein, especially in busy months when the official tickets sell out.
Departs from International Ticket and Travel Center, Füssen station, Bahnhofstrasse 12, 87629 Füssen (Germany)
GetYourGuide · 5.0/5 from 3 reviews
The easy way to see Neuschwanstein from Innsbruck: a private driver-guide picks you up in town, books your castle slot and handles the parking and roads.
Departs from Markthalle Innsbruck or Bahnhofcenter Innsbruck · Full day
Our take on each: Neuschwanstein Castle tickets (collected in Füssen) · Neuschwanstein day trip from Innsbruck (private tour).
Where to stay for this
Hall in Tirol, old town, Hall in Tirol · Hotel · 19 rooms
A historic inn on Hall's old town square, 400 m from the station.
A historic inn on Hall's old town square with 19 individual rooms and a Tyrolean cellar restaurant; for couples and culture lovers.
Yes. Few cities let you ride a cable car from the old town to 2,256 m, ski in 12 areas on one pass and spend the evening at a Christmas market. The markets run from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, and the ski season on the glacier runs into May.
The first markets open on 13 November 2026: the Old Town market and the Marktplatz market, both until 23 December. The Hungerburg market opens on 20 November and Maria-Theresien-Strasse on 25 November, and both stay open until 6 January 2027.
Yes. The Nordkette funicular leaves from the Congress station by the old town, and its ski area runs from 20 November 2026 to 25 April 2027. It is steep terrain for strong skiers. For easier pistes, the Patscherkofel and Muttereralm are a short bus ride away.
In the city, December averages a daily high of 4.4 °C and a low of minus 2.2 °C (1991 to 2020 data from GeoSphere Austria). January is a little colder and has the most days with snow on the ground, about 18. The ski areas higher up are much colder and snowier.
Ride the Nordkette to the Hafelekar, visit the Hofburg, Ambras Castle and the Bergisel ski jump, take the shuttle to Swarovski Crystal Worlds, go tobogganing or skating, and spend the evenings at the Christmas markets. A day at a thermal spa such as the Aqua Dome is another good choice.
Bergsilvester runs on 30 and 31 December 2026, with light projections, a children's New Year's Eve on the 30th, a party mile with live music and DJs on the 31st and fireworks on the Nordkette.
Sources: christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, ski-plus-city.com, ski-plus-city.com, ski-plus-city.com, ski-plus-city.com, ski-plus-city.com, ski-plus-city.com. Checked October 2026.
